1 Dec - Opening Ceremony with Biao Shu
I thought I could finally sleep through the night, but I still woke up at 5plus because of colic. I called home while Kiok was in the showers. He was busy and said to call back tonight. Oh well, so much for needing a few words of comfort. 
As it’s the opening ceremony today, we girls decided to wear the Team Singapore t-shirt given by SSC. I didn’t bring mine, so Kiok lend me hers, which I could wear surprisingly.
We took the car and alighted at Gate 9, which spared Kiok the walking from Gate 1.
I took over Alvin’s place in the IBC, setup his laptop, and got down to work. Kiok kept on teasing me about being doggie. To make Kiok happier, I drank Coke and eat ice-cream just to simulate what Erquan will do. I’m morphing into doggie. Hahaha! But lo and behold! The coke actually cured my colic problem!
Sitting down with Biao Shu, we planned the lineup for tomorrow’s live belt. After a long time, I finally realised that Conty will be recording the Table Tennis Women's team Semi-finals (North Korea v Singapore) to be played back during our live belt. So, according to Biao Shu, there will NOT be a live show. Though we still do the live belt as planned as programming will find some place to play back the show.
Everybody had lunch at IBC together. I guess this could be the last time everyone can have lunch together at IBC. Prem, Rabi, Ghandi, Dollah and Biao Shu will be out doing stories. So the three cameramen grabbed this opportunity to take some photos in our booth at the IBC, as they prepared for their outing this evening – Khalifa Stadium for the Opening Ceremony.
Every broadcaster is doing their colour stories and in no time, one of them came into our booth to interview the team leader. In this case, it's our biao shu shu. I quickly signalled Kiok to whip out her camera and take photos of Biao Shu. How can let go of such good opportunity to disturb him??
Back at the IBC, we were suddenly aware of this noise. It took us a few seconds to realise that it was raining. It only rained four times a year in Doha, and this triggered a wave of photo taking session in the rain.
Biao shu and John Burgess were late for the filming of links. With Rabi and Ghandi gone with Prem to the Opening Ceremony, Dollah had to do everything himself. While Kiok double up as makeup artistes for Biao Shu and JB, I was running in and out calling for Halid to help with sound. Biao Shu had to borrow the clip mics from our Iranian neighours as Ghandi has locked up all the equipment. Due to the time constrain, we could only do the opening link as we all have to get ready for the opening ceremony.
Erquan sms and called me with so many instructions for the Opening Ceremony until I was on the verge of a nervous breakdown. I know what to do, but if Biao Shu refused to listen, there is nothing I can do!
True to my words, Biao Shu didn’t go for commercial breaks during the transitions for the performances. He said the people back home would want to watch the spectacular spectacular. I sms Alvin to check if Ah Gong has started swearing yet, he said we were damn lucky as ah gong is not there. His tolerance level is higher than Ah Gong. With the stress on him to roll two comercial breaks in the next half an hour, Biao shu called for two commercial breaks in 10 minutes that left Alvin fuming.
After the whole ceremony, I actually sms Alvin saying that I think I can do better than Biao Shu, and his reply was he KNOW I can do better than Biao Shu!! Hahaha! Still, nothing could spoil the fun for me as I thoroughly enjoyed the opening ceremony very much. It was unlike the usual ceremony as this was a musical.
Wendy did comment that if we worked till 3am today, what about other days? Kiok rebutted that we should be on Doha time, and it's only 11pm. We were so tired that we settled with cup noodles and cuppa soups for dinner and went to sleep. The next fourteen days await.
